Portland Police Murder Unarmed Black Man

author: haosi

Late breaking news has just been submitted that just an hour ago, the Portland Police murdered an unarmed Black man in North Portland. The Black man was pulled over in one of the Portland Police's excessive use of "traffic stops" that are used to harrass and intimidate the working class in the city, especially African Americans and Latinos, in the NE/N.Portland area of the city. 7240 N. Fessenden was the scene of the state crime.

The murdered Black male was pulled over in one of the Portland Police's excessive use of "traffic stops" that are used to harrass and intimidate working class person in the city, especially African Americans and Latinos, in the NE/N.Portland sections.

The victim asked for the Probable Cause of the police officer pulling him over, and so the police officer then told the Black man to get out of the car. When the above mentioned driver undid his selt belt, the officer fired his gun into the victim, murdering him.

When a family member of the victim received information of the murder, a police officer then arrested the grieving relative.

This represents another police state murder victim, almost all of them: people of color. The police officer that murdered Kendra James, a victim who was also unarmed, was simply transfered to the Southeast. The corporate news will certainly whitewash this latest police state murder. But the world needs to be informed of this daily occurrence in the United States concerning these types of legalized murder; a direct line from the days of the Lynch mob, the "White" race riot with police protection, the Slave Patrols, and the US military's use in putting down Slave rebellions. Justice has been too long denied. Will this dangerous murderer not receive the Death Penatly? How long will we sit by and watch another person murdered openly - on such a beautiful spring day?

naturally wonders if it wasn't Scott McCollister that did this...a second killing? We need to rise up
and make life miserable for the cops...keep the pressure on them. This is going to get worst, unless
we rise up and make these sicko pigs realize that WE THE PEOPLE mean business.

Like I wrote, this is most distressing news, as I honestly felt it was just a matter of time till the
Portland Pigs did it again. Once they got away with getting their poster boy, MCColistter, back on the
force, it was like an in-your-face wink that they could do it again. Folk's we need to band together
on this and make that damned looney Vera Katz realize that she'd better shape up the PoPi's or we'll
make her remaining days in office a living hell! The problem starts with her gross mismanagement of
the police department. We deny it any longer. We must come out of denial and deal with HER first!

Those investigating the Brotherhood of the Strong will want to have their database ready to run the
names of the officer(s) involved with this citizen-killing so as to ascertain if they're members, and
if so, then make it known so the rest of us can take up the cry and keep pressure on officials.

Record the news at ten tonight and other stations (such as channel 2 because they had the best stuff and faces of cops). We need to get this stuff recorded so we have pictures and video of the officers there now so when they try and cover this up later we will have their photo to share with others in the community. We need to look out for each other and watch our own back since the police can't be trusted to protect us any longer.

those of you that have video cameras that can be at the scene to film who all is there is good idea too
...it pays to have all the film possible to keep these Blue Bastards from covering up, as we know they
will try. If they know there is too much film and TRUTH known, then they'll be forced to pitch this
killer cop to the wolves, and then, WE THE PEOPLE can tear him a new ass!

Police murdering unarmed people, mostly blacks, has got to stop! This is an outrage! I'll do my damndest to fight to stop their use of violence and force to the point of murder. Stop, Stop, Stop the police. How do they get by NOT protecting us, and doing the opposite? Stop the police.

merlin, get a fucking grip. vera is out next semester. we dont need to put pressure on them so they give us more or dont kill us as much, we need to get the fuck rid of them, and the only clear way to do that is a defined revolution. think about it.

reshaping the police is kind of like rearranging our prison cells. lets not do that, lets just break out of the cells into freedom, you know?

after reading your posting and thinking about it, I must say that I do very much
agree with the sentiments you've given. REVOLUTION in the streets is about the
only way these thick-headed bastards will get the MESSAGE. There is one other
way that I saw used with considerable success back in the 1960's when I was then
a student at large Southern city that had cops just as bad at these here in PDX.

The cops then were wantonly killing young black people and getting by with it...
till one day "someone" sniped a couple of white cops who were riding together and
killed them. In spite of the cops most thorough investigation, they never ever
found anyone to bring charges against. Rumors on the streets had it that the
black community had decided it'd had enough and collectively engaged a contract
"specialist" from Detroit to rid themselves of this unending problem in whatever
manner would do the job. Not specifying the exact whereforths, etc...leaving it
to the contract specialists. Well, say whatever you like, when all was said and
done...the cop killings of the black people suddenly STOPPED as the thickheaded
white racist cops got the MESSAGE. It took that to get the message over to them,
and I fear these thickheaded dudes they've got here are courting the same fate!
So be it...they'll not find me crying for any of 'em if it happened here! No!

Seems that everyone here is really quick to make assumptions and then hastily throw out the term "Riot!" I think it is irresponsible to make threats and assume the police just shot a guy for taking off his seat belt. The author of this story did not seem to put much research into this piece. This type of irresponsibility is like yelling fire in a crowded theater.

I understand that some police officers can act like Nazis in Portland. I also understand that there are some fine men and woman on the Portland PD. Before you all act like a bunch of juveniles, let the facts come forward, evaluate it and then voice your opinion. Do something about it instead of whining on some bulletin board. Contact the mayor, organize a peaceful rally, or better yet, go to law school, graduate and become a police officer so you can do some good and see how they feel.

You will not get taken seriously if you threaten to riot or act like a criminal. This will only make those who take these issues seriously not be taken serious as well.

Police officers deal with a lot of crap on a daily basis. Unless you have "walked a mile." Than you really have nothing to complain about.

All I ask is that you get the full story before your rant due to a knee jerked reaction.

that quickly go to work whenever BLUE comes under attack. It's always the same
sing-song story...rarely changes...nothing new! Pay him no mind! Ignore his
posting and see through him for what he is...a troll! There is enough info out
on this case to know the cops have screwed up and that a cover=up is in progress!
Don't trust the cops or the trolls whenever a cops kills a citizen...no, not here
in Portland, as they have a terrible record of being honest and truthful!

dear orpi. i dont think people are that quick to throw out riot/revolution. this isnt the first time this has happened, the ppd is technically a serial killer. with a pattern. people of color.

you know, i dont think you are really looking at it. you ask for people to wait for the "facts" the facts are that therre is a force of repression working against the will of people they are on the streets of portland every day and night, and they shoot first.

they are there, that is a fact. the facts you are waintg for are from the people that murdered this man, or the corporate news to explain to us why it is okay, "well jim, he was black, and historically balck people are not good to the white dominance of this culture, so the murder, ahem, accidental shooting, was completely justified, back to karen with the weather...and later on the news learn why ge food is good for you and how the corporations are trying to mkae you safer"

really, look at the big picture, we are being fucked on all levels and not just allowing it, but asking for it waiting for it, and beleiving that it is right/okay. I dont care why the police will say this man was murdered. we will never get any facts from the systems of repression, we will only get lies and that is where we must begin our fighting. that is why we are using this "meassage board".

Your right. Portland Police are a bunch of murderers who are trying to keep the black population under control by murdering them. Your right, lets all go out and riot and beat up all the white people we see, they must be racist against blacks and they must be supportive of the Portland Nazi Police. Your right, lets go out and riot and break windows and start fires. Your right, lets shoot police officers as they drive by. Your right lets target all of the men and woman in blue. What do we need police for anyway? Your right. What is the answer my friend?

I am not a pig apologist. I am a realist. I support our police department, however, I voice my opinion of the crooked ones. You do not know me so do not pretend to "have me figured out." I understand your views and can relate to them. However, I cannot understand your reasoning to want to riot or shoot cops? What is this going to solve?

And yes Kendra James should not have been killed and the facts are pretty clear on that. When that story first broke, I did not make any decisions until facts came out. Once they did, I came to the conclusion that the police officer involved was wrong. Is rioting going to bring Kendra James back? Is rioting going to change the way police officers deal with the public? All I am saying is that just because a police officer shoots and kills a black person, wait until you have the facts before you make judgments.

If you all have this forum because you all have the answers? What are the answers what can I do? I would love to hear some intelligent feedback. Thanks.

While we naturally grope at times like this searching for something to do

that is meaningful, and we are left bereft as this is a wounding of the entire community
--there is one thing that comes to my mind that we can do: we need to renew the effort
to get the photograph of that other killer-cop, McCollister, and at least put his pic up
here as a "message" to the other's that while they may kill with impunity, they'll be
found out and they'll be made known for WHAT THEY ARE...killers! Maybe that will take
away some of the luster they seem to have with hiding behind their badges? So, people
let's renew our committment to get the picture of that killer-cop...do it this week..let
us find him and put him up here. That will give them a strong message that they can't
hide!

"Tell me something what you think would happen if everytime they kill a black boy then we kill a cop everytime they kill a black man then we kill a cop you think the accident rate would lower subsequently?" except from a poem by June Jordan

I am not sure I understand the significance behind posting a picture of the officer involved in the Kendra James Shooting? This only prompts those with ulterior motives the opportunity to act out in violence against the officer or his family. Do we really need to see who it is? Why not voice your opinion to the City of Portland through community involvement and action. There are several churches in NE Portland who would be willing to "promote the cause." This forum is a good start for exchange of ideas; I just think that some are not focused.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said; "Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love."

then we ought to put him and his past under a microscope and look carefully at
him and his past. We need to expose this people to the utmost scrutiny, for it's
obvious they were hired with so very little, as most got their jobs by being a
"friend of a friend" or via relatives. Let's be honest...it's a good old boy's
network...always has been and still it...only worst! Need to go after this killer
cop and make sure he knows that if he's going to kill citizen's then he'll be put
under the citizen's spotlight.

The P.I.O. (public information officer) took two hours to respond and give comment. Few of the witnesses were willing to speak to corporate news people on the scene. One of the witnesses I spoke to absolutly did not want to speak on the record as he was visably shocked and, I would say, fearing speaking out about the incident. The P.I.O. did not give any details other than that there was a fatal shooting, and that it was a traffic stop. The P.I.O. would not confirm or deny whether or not the victim had a weapon. She did not have details to release at that time.

One of the issues at hand is that people are not willing to speak to corporate news in the field, which leads me to believe that they fear reprisal from police.

ORPI writes: "I am not sure I understand the significance behind posting a picture of the officer involved in the Kendra James Shooting? This only prompts those with ulterior motives the opportunity to act out in violence against the officer or his family. Do we really need to see who it is?"

Absolutely we need to know who it is. Police are public servants, paid by taxpayer money, who are allegedly here to "serve and protect". Policing is a PUBLIC job, like being an elected official or government employee. They are all accountable to us, and when one of them KILLS one of us, we have the right to know who it was. We need to know what McCollister looks like because he is obviously dangerous and if find ourselves face-to-face, we need to know what we're dealing with. Knowing who he is and holding him accountable is the ulterior motive that many of us have -- nothing violent. Just wanting to know when we're interacting with a publically-paid killer.

The idea that the only reason anyone would want to know what he looks like is so they can hurt him is a red herring, created by cops and gov't (neither of whom want to be accountable to their bosses, who are US) and served up by the corporate media (which is not usually more than the propaganda arm of the same).

As for your sudden sidetrack into the topic of violence, that message would best be delivered to the gov't, the cops, and most of all to McCollister. i want to locate a photo of McCollister and give it to you, so that if you ever run into him, you can tell him. He's the one who needs to hear it.

Public Information Office News Releases: Portland Police Plan for Spring Break Sub-Category Spring Break Date 03/19/2004 Incident/Case# Investigator PIO Contact PIO Contact Name: Cheryl Robinson Email Address: crobinson@police.ci.portland.or.us Phone Number: 503-823-0010 Pager Number: 503-790-1779 From March 19, 2004 through March 28, 2004, the Portland Police Bureau will conduct a series of missions designed to keep young people safe and enhance the safety of Portland's neighborhoods during spring break. The missions will include curfew sweeps, drug and alcohol compliance missions, and transit and traffic enforcement details. "The Portland Police Bureau makes spring break a priority each year," says Chief Derrick Foxworth. "Our goal is to have a violence-free week, where youth are engaged in lawful activity and enjoy a fun, safe week." Numerous organizations, including the Police Activities League (PAL), will be hosting youth programs during the next seven days. "PAL provides structured, supervised activities for area youth," says Maura White, Executive Director of PAL. "Our spring break activities range from sports to art, as well as activity-oriented field trips. It's always a positive, fun and safe time for kids." Families are encouraged to contact PAL at (503) 823-0250 or Portland Parks and Recreation or visit their websites at www.palkids.org or www.portlandparks.org.

Police Shoot, Kill Man During Traffic Stop Victim's Identity Not Released PORTLAND -- A police officer shot and killed a motorist in a laundromat parking lot, the authorities said Sunday. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was dead at the scene in North Portland, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, the Portland police spokeswoman. Robinson said a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. One of the officers soon fired several shots into the car. Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by witnesses as a black man in his early 20s, had a gun. She said the car was stopped because of a routine traffic violation. The shooting is in the same part of town where Kendra James, 21, was shot and killed in a traffic stop May 5. The family of James, who is black, has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over the shooting. Officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5.5 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. Posted: March 28, 2004 Copyright 2004 Associated Press.

Officer-involved shooting leaves one person dead in N. Portland 07:00 PM PST on Sunday, March 28, 2004 By ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff A shooting involving a police officer left one person dead in north Portland on Sunday night. Police investigate a shooting in north Portland near the City Food Mart. (KGW Photo) The shooting occurred outside the City Food Mart on 7240 N. Fessenden St. about 5 p.m. on Sunday, said dispatchers and a Portland police spokesperson. Investigators were still trying to understand why the shooting occurred and attempting to identify the shooting victim. One body was seen inside a car by the time other police arrived to help secure the scene, which was surrounded by yellow crime tape. A crowd had also assembled around the site of the shooting.

One dead in police shooting March 28, 2004 6:36 PM Portland-AP -- A Portland police officer shot and killed a motorist in North Portland this afternoon. The shooting happened just after 5 p-m in a laundromat parking lot. One witness says the shooting happened after a traffic stop, but police have not confirmed that. The victim was a black man who appeared to be in his early twenties. (Thanks Loren Ruark, KVAL) Copyright 2004 Associated Press.

Police Shoot, Kill Man During Traffic Stop Victim's Identity Not Released PORTLAND -- A police officer shot and killed a motorist in a laundromat parking lot, the authorities said Sunday. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was dead at the scene in North Portland, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, the Portland police spokeswoman. Robinson said a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. One of the officers soon fired several shots into the car. Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by witnesses as a black man in his early 20s, had a gun. She said the car was stopped because of a routine traffic violation. The shooting is in the same part of town where Kendra James, 21, was shot and killed in a traffic stop May 5. The family of James, who is black, has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over the shooting. Officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5.5 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. Posted: March 28, 2004 Copyright 2004 Associated Press

The elderly couple in the article in the link below wasn't killed, but can anyone discern why two deputies felt the need to draw their guns at the unarmed octegenarian and his wife?

Do the officers not know how to talk? Do they have no powers of persuasion or reasoning? Have they been told to draw their guns at any sign of resistance? What did the old folks do? Move too slowly? Voice their unhappiness at losing their home? And their answer to that was drawing their guns?

What were the relatives arrested for? Assaulting an officer is what i've assumed. Fuck those pigs, i hope somebody's ready to go vigilante on this racist pig and fuckin McColister too. These racist bastards need to get a fucking soul.

Note to ashcroft: By vigilante justice i mean saying mean things. "Your mother was a hampster and your father smelt of elderberries" and the like.

pulled guns on 2 old people was because they're mean, tough, tip-top shape officer's of the law...they
are our finest ((at least they believe the bullshit they constantly tell themselves))...but the truth is
they are the least amongst us, for most of 'em are lower than dirt, stupid as they make 'em, and are so
full of themselves that one can't stand to be around them...the only people that can tolerate them is
another cop. Ever wonder why they have one of the highest divorce rates of any occupation? It's easy
...what woman would put up with such arrogant bastards except she beat senseless or was senseless in the
first place. Folk's...these aren't our finest. Now the truth is out!

and who had a small camera to record what was going on, that the cop
who did the killing seemed like a jerk. He wasn't in shock over his
having killed another human, but seemed as it was just matter-of-fact
and no biggie.

Most people there on the scene earlier on were in shock at this jerk's
attitude as much as they were at the needless killing. Some of other
cops seemed concerned, saddened, perplexed, and like human beings, but
not the killer. Strange people these Portland Police are...why????

psycho's are everything that we've all said they are, but that they are seriously mentally ill, as well!!! Let's be honest...what reason do we have to think they are sane even in the slightest?!?!?!? On the surface, we see racism, meanness and contempt, but underneath, isn't it a mental illness that prevents these civil servants from functioning?!?!?! I would think that a mental illness has afflicted the supervising officers, etc. too.
The last time I checked, when a person is a danger to themselves or others, that person has to be evaluated for their mental health.

>You will not get taken seriously if you threaten to riot or act like a criminal.
>This will only make those who take these issues seriously not be taken serious as well.

Sorry, ORPI, you'll have to find some other scapegoat for your lack of effectiveness. If the Man isn't taking you seriously, he's not going to take you any more seriously because fewer hotheads wanna see a riot. If anything, they'll take you even less seriously.

Get that footage or pictures to the video collective right away! They will get those shots your friend took into the right hands right away! There contact info is on the video page on the front page under the word "video." Here is the address anyway: videoresistance@riseup.net

Let make sure this photo of the "killer" is spread and is known everywhere!

Yet another report of Police brutality was reported this morning on KOIN in their telling the silly pigs
came with search warrents to a woman's house because...get this...her electric bills were too hight! In
Pig Minds, it seems that people who have high electric bills are doing something "criminal" and after a
most thorough investigation they failed to find anything other than the fact the woman had kids, washed
lots of loads of cloths, various and sundry appliances were on and lights were left burning that others
would have turned off. The woman pressed the matter and demanded an apology and all she got was verbal
"we're so sorry" and this isn't good enough for her, as she is pressing for written apology. Me, I'd
sue the bastards for all I could get...rip their pig asses to pieces and stir up as much turmoil as be
possible. See, this is only way to confront police abuse of power...and that's exactly what is indeed
involved...and hold the bastards up for ridicule and make 'em pay...whether they oink or not!

yeah, screw the pigs. but...i do like information to be accurate. and i just want to respond to a couple posts ago, where someone said, "You think any of the Rodney King cops would've done a second in jail if there hadn't been riots?". umm, i thought they were all aquitted, and the riots were a result of them getting aquitted. or at least some of them were aquitted, and others got a slap on the wrist or something. noone did any jail time. and the riots were after the fact.

but yeah, im not against a militant response to these pigs. i just want info to be accurate

March 29, 2004 Police Shooting Creates Tense Situation (katu) VIDEO http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/040329officer_shooting_5am.wvx Watch this story PORTLAND, ORE. - A Portland police officer shot and killed a motorist in the parking lot of a coin-operated laundry during a routine traffic stop, the authorities said. The victim, who was not immediately identified, died at the scene, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, the Portland police spokeswoman. A patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. One of the officers soon fired several shots into the car. Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by witnesses as a black man in his early 20s, had a weapon. She said police would release more information on Monday. A large crowd gathered at the scene late Sunday, with many people demanding to know why the man was shot. Some complained that he was an unarmed black man shot by police in North Portland, and compared it to last May's fatal police shooting of Kendra James, who was trying to flee a routine traffic stop. The family of James has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over the May 5 shooting. Officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5 1/2 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. "It seems like we're moving to a time where we're turning a stop into a killing," said Robert Richardson, an elder at Emmanuel Temple in Northeast Portland. In the past 10 months, five people have died during confrontations with Portland police, including Sunday's shooting. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.

Officer-involved shooting leaves one person dead in N. Portland 08:43 AM PST on Monday, March 29, 2004 By TERESA BELL and ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff An officer shot and killed a motorist in the parking lot of a coin-operated laundry during a traffic stop in North Portland Sunday night, authorities said. Police investigate a shooting in north Portland near the City Food Mart. (KGW Photo) The victim, who was not immediately identified, died at the scene, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau. The shooting happened after a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. on Sunday, outside the City Food Mart on 7240 N. Fessenden Street. "At some point during contact with the vehicle's driver, one officer fired multiple shots, striking the driver," Robinson said. "The driver was the only person in the vehicle when officers made contact." Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by as a 28-year-old African American man, had a weapon. She said Police Chief Derrick Foxworth would release more information after talking to investigators on Monday. A large crowd gathered at the scene late Sunday, with many people demanding to know why the man was shot. The crowd grew to more than 100 people by Sunday night and Chief Foxworth also came to the scene to speak with investigators in person. One man was pepper sprayed by an officer and arrested after yelling profanities at police and crossing into the closed off investigation area. Some complained that the man shot Sunday was unarmed and compared it to last May's fatal police shooting of Kendra James, who was trying to flee a routine traffic stop. Police investigate the shooting scene as a crowd watches from behind crime tape, a short distance away. (KGW Photo) "It seems like we're moving to a time where we're turning a stop into a killing," said Robert Richardson, an elder at Emmanuel Temple in Northeast Portland. Other recent officer-involved shootings: Sunday night's shooting was the sixth officer-involved shooting in Portland in the past two years; four of the six were fatal. The most recent case was last January at the Greyhound Bus Station in Northwest Portland. Police said they shot and killed a man who was threatening his girlfriend with a knife. In December 2003, police shot and killed 25-year-old Shane Eric Clements at Division and SE 169th when he tried to take off in a stolen car, according to investigators. The family of Kendra James has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over her shooting on May 5. Portland police officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5 1/2 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. (AP also contributed to this article.)

More information expected in officer involved shooting 3-29-04 PORTLAND- Portland police chief Derrick Foxworth is expected to release more details today on why an officer shot and killed a young man. A police officer shot and killed a motorist in a laundromat parking lot, the authorities said Sunday. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was dead at the scene in North Portland, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, the Portland police spokeswoman. Robinson said a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. One of the officers soon fired several shots into the car. Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by witnesses as a black man in his early 20s, had a gun. She said the car was stopped because of a routine traffic violation. The shooting is in the same part of town where Kendra James, 21, was shot and killed in a traffic stop May 5. The family of James, who is black, has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over the shooting. Officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5 1/2 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

and they said that the crowd was rightly so, very upset. The police were menacing to the crowd as a
whole, and especially to the young man's family and friends. It was so upsetting that my friend said
he was numbed in just standing there watching the "evilness of it all" evolve before his eyes!

My friend was so sickened by what he saw, that when he got home he vomitted all night and had to have
friends come over to help him calm down. This incident is very upsetting to all of us who love the
totality of humanity. When one of us is killed with such spitefulness as the police showed, it's an
insult to us all.

Let us make the police realize that we don't approve of THEM when they do things like this by being
as cold to them as possible should we have dealings with them today. Let us show our distain, our
lack of support for them as a group and as individuals, our willingness to not forget or forgive.
When enough of us make it difficult to be a cop in this town, then the "bad apples" will move on,
those who need reproof of character will have it and mend their bad ways, and the leaders will be
held up to ridicule for their incompetence. We need to make them feel our collective PAIN...be nasty
to the cops today!

KGW changes picture of white Mitsubishi to a picture of the crowd at the scene.

KGW.COM CHANGES PICTURE ON WEBSITE IN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING CASE. THE PICTURE OF THE WHITE MITSUBISHI CAR INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A PICTURE OF THE CROWD AT THE SCENE. PORTLAND'S INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER'S LOCAL REPORTER (MIKE-D.) CALLS TO FIND OUT WHY. 1ST ATTEMPT MIKE-D. GETS A VOICE MAIL FOR THE WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR (MALE) 2ND ATTEMPT MIKE-D. GETS TOLD SHE(FEMALE)STEPPED AWAY FROM HER DESK, AND WILL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES. 3RD ATTEMPT MIKE-D. TALKS TO KGW NEWSROOM AND IS TOLD A STAFF OF PEOPLE WORK ON WEBSITE. MIKE-D. IS TRANSFERED TO TERESA BELL WHO TALKS ABOUT THE PICTURE CHANGE. TERESA WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE QUOTED WHEN ASKED, TALKED ABOUT A MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE PICTURE AND THAT IT WAS NOT WHAT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS. SHE ALL MENTIONED THAT PICTURES CHANGE ALL THE TIME ON THE WEBSITE. Officer-involved shooting leaves one person dead in N. Portland 08:50 AM PST on Monday, March 29, 2004 By TERESA BELL and ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff An officer shot and killed a motorist in the parking lot of a coin-operated laundry during a traffic stop in North Portland Sunday night, authorities said. Police investigate a shooting in north Portland near the City Food Mart. (KGW Photo) The victim, who was not immediately identified, died at the scene, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau. The shooting happened after a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. on Sunday, outside the City Food Mart on 7240 N. Fessenden Street. "At some point during contact with the vehicle's driver, one officer fired multiple shots, striking the driver," Robinson said. "The driver was the only person in the vehicle when officers made contact." Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by as a 28-year-old African American man, had a weapon. She said Police Chief Derrick Foxworth would release more information after talking to investigators on Monday. A large crowd gathered at the scene late Sunday, with many people demanding to know why the man was shot. The crowd grew to more than 100 people by Sunday night and Chief Foxworth also came to the scene to speak with investigators in person. One man was pepper sprayed by an officer and arrested after yelling profanities at police and crossing into the closed off investigation area. Some complained that the man shot Sunday was unarmed and compared it to last May's fatal police shooting of Kendra James, who was trying to flee a routine traffic stop. A crowd watches as police investigate the shooting scene. (KGW Photo) "It seems like we're moving to a time where we're turning a stop into a killing," said Robert Richardson, an elder at Emmanuel Temple in Northeast Portland. Other recent officer-involved shootings: Sunday night's shooting was the sixth officer-involved shooting in Portland in the past two years; four of the six were fatal. The most recent case was last January at the Greyhound Bus Station in Northwest Portland. Police said they shot and killed a man who was threatening his girlfriend with a knife. In December 2003, police shot and killed 25-year-old Shane Eric Clements at Division and SE 169th when he tried to take off in a stolen car, according to investigators. The family of Kendra James has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over her shooting on May 5. Portland police officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5 1/2 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. (AP also contributed to this article.)

Oh come on you people! This story starts off with zero research and a call to riot. Some of you are acting like middle school kids having a spit ball war with the substitute teacher.

It is easy to quote the tv and newspaper reports, then challenge them with rhetoric, not facts. How about making a real journalist's effort to go to the scene, take pictures, interview people, chase down leads, then present the FACTS that you find out?

Maybe there is reason to raise hell about this, but nothing you have presented so far makes me do more than roll my eyes at your lack of maturity.

This story is dynamite, don't play with matches if you are not ready for it to blow up unless you really know that is what you want and you know what you are doing.

Now go get the REAL story and post it here, even if you find out it is the same as heard on tv.

Kgw.com added a picture of the pepper spray incident involving a police officer and a local man at the scene of portland's lastest officer-involved shooting. Officer-involved shooting leaves one person dead in N. Portland 09:25 AM PST on Monday, March 29, 2004 By TERESA BELL and ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff An officer shot and killed a motorist in the parking lot of a dry cleaning and laundry business during a traffic stop in North Portland Sunday night, authorities said. Police investigate a shooting in north Portland near the City Food Mart. (KGW Photo) The victim, who was not immediately identified, died at the scene, said Sgt. Cheryl Robinson, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau. The shooting happened after a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5 p.m. on Sunday, at 7240 N. Fessenden Street. "At some point during contact with the vehicle's driver, one officer fired multiple shots, striking the driver," Robinson said. "The driver was the only person in the vehicle when officers made contact." A Portland police officer sprays a man with pepper spray before arresting him. (KGW Photo) Robinson refused to say if the motorist, described by as a 28-year-old African American man, had a weapon. She said Police Chief Derrick Foxworth would release more information after talking to investigators on Monday. A large crowd gathered at the scene late Sunday, with many people demanding to know why the man was shot. The crowd had grown to hundreds people by Sunday night and Chief Foxworth also came to the scene to speak with investigators in person. One man was pepper sprayed by an officer and arrested after yelling profanities at police and crossing into the closed off investigation area. Some complained that the man shot Sunday was unarmed and compared it to last May's fatal police shooting of Kendra James, who was trying to flee a routine traffic stop. A crowd watches as police investigate the shooting scene. (KGW Photo) "It seems like we're moving to a time where we're turning a stop into a killing," said Robert Richardson, an elder at Emmanuel Temple in Northeast Portland. Other recent officer-involved shootings: Sunday night's shooting was the sixth officer-involved shooting in Portland in the past two years; four of the six were fatal. The most recent case was last January at the Greyhound Bus Station in Northwest Portland. Police said they shot and killed a man who was threatening his girlfriend with a knife. In December 2003, police shot and killed 25-year-old Shane Eric Clements at Division and SE 169th when he tried to take off in a stolen car, according to investigators. The family of Kendra James has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over her shooting on May 5. Portland police officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury but suspended without pay for 5 1/2 months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. (AP also contributed to this article.)

Mike-d, so you are an indymedia reporter? You really know how to do it! Telephoning the tv station and getting pissed off when their reporter stonewalls you. Well, fuck that! Why don't you go dig up the story yourself? How the hell can anybody who calls themselves reporters on this site if they don't do their own research? If all you can do is be a media critic, be honest and don't call yourself a reporter. Even then a bonafide media critic digs up facts on which to base their opinion, otherwise you are no better than a Rush Limbaugh blowing smoke.

March 29, 2004 Police Shooting Brings Tears And Outrage VIDEO http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/040329officer_shooting_5am.wvx PORTLAND, ORE. - A tense situation in North Portland on Sunday, after a Portland police officer shot and killed a man during a traffic stop. "They're telling me that he had a gun. He did not have no gun on him at all. He just left our home. He said he was going to the store to get the kids some candy. He did not have a gun," Larry Smith, a cousin of the victim, told KATU News. That was among many reactions yesterday, as police tried to get the scene of the shooting, a(t) laundromat parking lot on North Fessenden, under control. As news of the shooting spread, the victim's family members began showing up, some in tears, some outraged and others looking on in disbelief. Some complained that he was an unarmed black man shot by police and compared the incident to last May's fatal police shooting of Kendra James, who was trying to flee a routine traffic stop. The family of James has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit over the May 5 shooting. Officer Scott McCollister, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, but suspended without pay for 5 Â½ months because of tactical decisions he made before the shooting. "It seems like we're moving to a time where we're turning a stop into a killing," said Robert Richardson, an elder at Emmanuel Temple in Northeast Portland. How The Incident Began According to police, a patrol car with two officers stopped a white Mitsubishi just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Police are giving few details about what happened after that point, only that after making contact with the driver of the Mitsubishi, one of the officers fired multiple shots into the car, killing the 28-year-old man inside. A witness KATU News spoke with on Sunday says it appeared to her that the officer fired while the driver was trying to unbuckle his seatbelt. "I was at the laundromat with my sister and he pulled up and the cops were right behind him. And they were like 'get out of the car, get out of the car.' And then, it looked like (he was) resisting arrest to me, but then he was asking them what he did wrong," Maria Leae said. "Then they went and opened up the door and the cop with the hat on, he went and slammed his head against the steering wheel and he was telling him to get out of the car." "Then he was like, 'get off of me, what did I do?' and then he let him go. When he went to unbuckle his seatbelt, because he had his belt on, that's when the three shots were fired." Police are not saying whether the man had a weapon, although his cousin, Larry Smith, told KATU News he did not. Family members also told KATU News that the victim had no prior problems with the law and no criminal record, although that has not yet been confirmed with police. Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth is planning a press conference this afternoon to discuss the shooting. (From KATU & AP reports)

You seem to be unfamiliar with how indymedia works, so I will attempt to explain. Indy volunteers provide the medium. You provide the content. Occasionally indy volunteers, as members of the community, provide content as well. So if you are unsatisfied with the content it is ultimately your responsibility to remedy that. I look forward to reading your story! :~)

While "white guy" certainly comes off as an asshole, he does have some good points. I think it would be better to not devte so much space to repetitive reposts of corporate news coverage. Perhaps post stuff that is new information (or conjecture, as the case may be) and give links to other articles that are repeating what has been said already.

In July of 1967 a riot broke out at Portland's Irving Park in the neighborhood that was a reflection of growing discontentment of the quality of life of the blacks. The riots lasted two nights. Two local pastors, Wendell Wallace and O.B.Williams, were called to walk the streets and try to bring peace to about eighty rioters there.

As Reverend Wallace recalls:
"On Sunday night, I was called by the Portland Police to walk the streets to get the kids to go home ... I called Mayor Terry Shrunk, and told him he better come to the park and talk with the young people because the kids were about to burn things up. The Wiedmer Brewery was already set on fire. He came and things calmed down."

These damned cops have got nobody but themselves to blame
either. I'd spit on everyone of 'em I saw if I knew I'd get
by with it! That how much contempt I've got for them!

They've brought it ALL down on themselves for their collective
failure to control the racists assholes they've got in their
ranks. Everyone in blue is to fault for NOT getting rid of
these bastards.

So, as far as I'm concerned, they've got WHATEVER punishment
the public deems they deserve coming...they earned the old
fashion way. They did everything they could to bring about
hatred towards themselves!

The corruption in this city runs too deep to fix it from within. Unless we demand change innocent citizens wil be murdered by the police at least several times a year.

We need the FBI to investigate this police department. We need a nationally recognized leader to come to this city and help us. The so-called "leaders" here have collaborated with the police in their meetings about "fixing" (sweeping under the rug) the police problem. The Portland leaders are unacceptable. Some one call in Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the Black Panthers, Move....anyone who can help us.

Committees and meetings have stolen all of the will of the people who want these killings to stop. Now is the time to stop talking and start acting.

If I hadn't seen the face of the beast I think I may have been reading these posts with disbelief. But as crazy as the police seem, some are that much and more. It is the community that the burden falls upon to protect itself when the state looses our respect.

I'm grateful that police will give a second thought before shooting me, but it is not fair that the only reason is that I am white.

Police have pointed their guns at me before, it was shock, this is a war to some of them.

that's just not right. it seems to me that it took quite awhile for the coppers to put forward that the murdered man was armed. whoever mentioned earlier that they had this on tape -please, make extra copies and make sure the coppers don't get the hands on any of it. I think that someone really aught to make a documentary; find witnesses and get what they have to say on tape. a young man is dead. if there is going to be reactionary violence (one could call this defense), it needs to be focused, none of that hothead shite. solidarity is important.

Many times in history it has been demonstrated that when you have violent/non-violent direct action along side of so-called "legitimate" reformist "actions" then the authorities when left with those choices will feel forced to appease the reformists. How do you think MLK jr was so successful? It was Decons For Defense, Black Panthers, MalcomX, riots, etc. vs MLK jr and civil disobedience. They chose to bargain with the reformist rather than have to deal with a revolution. The labor movement went down the same way. Anarchists or Democratic Socialists. The government chose the compromise. A diversity of tactics can be used for reform or revolution. Even assasinations, for example, can be reformist. It's how you arrange it into a strategy that makes it for one or the other. So don't buy into the old pig-disinformation line that direct action ruins things for reformists. Only lack of forsight and effective strategy does that.

to "whoever" out there that knows of pics and film being made last night

don't let ANYONE know that you have it right now. There will be sufficient time to bring it out. Now
is NOT the time. Let the so-called POWERS THAT BE dish out their lies, their justifications, and their
cover-ups. Let the community have a chance to rip into it and tear it apart...let the controversy build
up...let discord increase. Then, in course of keeping up with the events as they enfold, you'll have
had a chance to gauge the "good people" from the "bad people" and will be able to determine WHO is likely to be a trustworthy guardian of the pics/film. Most likely it would be whoever is attorney that
will surely represent the poor dead man's family, and if so, simply get in touch with him/her at that
time. To bring out the pics/film right now is to have them taken by the police for "investigation" pur-
poses and they'll either be doctored or disappeared. People, wake up and realize the level of people
holding these offices of public trust...they're the worst imaginable and reek with evilness! PLEASE, I
repeat, PLEASE...whoever has pics/film or even audio recordings (as I understand is the case in one of
the instances)...for NOW just keep quite and let the "drama" the officials have chosen to play out go on
it's merry way, and then at later date, spring it on them when it'll do the MOST DAMAGE!

You people only care about black Portlanders when you can use us as a proxy to bash the police. Where was your outrage earlier this year when black men were being gunned down by gang members? Where was your outrage when a little girl was shot in the head, by gang members? The real black bloodshed in Portland is gangs shooting our young men, that is the real massacre. But you opportunists don't care, you're happy to see us die unless our deaths can be used to further one of your pet projects. You hate the cops? Fine. But be honest about your motives. You don't give a fuck about our community. You just care about cops. Where will the outrage come from when another young black life is taken by gang violence? Not from these quarters.

Portland cops take one every year, that is bad. But gangs take DOZENS. Not that you people would understand or care.

For sure hold onto originals. Make MANY, MANY copies. Have hidden copies in multiple locations and give copies to the greiving family's lawyer. But don't just sit on footage right now. Get it out while people are the most emotional effected! If you wait, the issue dies off and only the folks most involved will pay attention. Speaking from experience, your peak interest/audience size time is up to 1 or 2 weeks after the issue is raised. The longer it takes to get a video out, the less people care. It's that damn american short attention span thing. If you're interested in sharing, the indy tv collective can get it on cable access and the indy video collective can teach you how to edit and make an informational media piece out of your footage or if you're not interested in learning editing then we could go ahead and make a video out of it for you. Then we can distribute the informational vid far and wide through free video showings and free online distribution. You know who you can't trust already, corporate media and the pigz.

I don't think that people don't care about gang violence. I just think in that issue it is harder to pin down what the answer is. It is very complicated circumstances having much to do with class struggle and racism that leads to the conditions for gangs. It's hard to pin down an enemy or someone to blame when that person is your neighbor living in the same poverty as you and I. We must go to the source instead of shoot only at the symptoms, which are very much victims of circumstance too. I agree that people should be discussing what creates the environment where these young people feel this is their only way to make their way in this world.
In this particular article, there is no mention of a gang member being involved. So people are not discussing it. Also in general cops are very visible manifestations of this oppressive system. This makes them easy targets and almost everyone relates to having to deal with the pigz. It is easy in this circumstance to say who is the bad guy and who is the evil oppressor. So the solution seems simple, get rid of the pigz. With gangs it is less visible and takes a little deeper analysis to find the source of the problem. So you will see stories like this catch fire on most news sources while gang violence takes a back page. The beauty about open media like this is that you can write the stories you would like to see. If gang violence is something that you are passionate about, write something up. I would love to read it and would like to discuss possible real solutions to this symptom.

So you're saying that when the police kill an unarmed person we shouldn't use it as a call for police reform including the dismissal of any officer using lethal force in an inappropriate situation? Last I checked my tax dollars weren't paying gang members to kill one another. Let's stick to the issue at hand and if you want to make a call to action for gang related killings I'm sure you will find plenty of support.

are there any decent cops out there?Well guess what.the onus is now on you to prove that you're decent by standing up to the bully pigs in your department and not lying to help them cover up.b/c I think you're all fucked.i would like to see the police dept annulled.we used to do that with co-ops i lived in-shut down and restart.i don't trust any of you assholes.there was actually a time (in my early 20's) when i thought about being a cop.i thought i would be cool and not be a pig.i didn't do it and am so relieved now.all police i've dealt with in the last 5 years (and yes folks that's 100%) have been swaggering,aggressive,contemptuous and contemptible.theyre being trained that way i think.

oh and one more thing.killing a "criminal" on the street is no different than killing an upright citizen.they're both human beings and they both deserve to live.this"its'ok-kendra james was just a drug addict anyway" attitude must die.WE ARE ALL THE SAME.

Here is how I did it today: called an old buddy who is editor for small newspaper back
in East Tennessee and briefly told him the story. He said he can't remember last time
he had any "news" about Portland, but he always had need for "filler news"...you know,
when they set the type and have extra space, then they'll fill in with news from other
places. He said he'd do it, if I sent him the local news reports and he'll source it as
he reedits it to suit his space available. I told him to give it a "spin" so there is a
BAD VIBE felt by the readers, and he laughted, saying no problem! His little newspaper
has a circulation of maybe 14,000 and he said he'd repost it on a wire service that the
other newspapers in the area use for "filler news" and who knows who'll pick it up?

It's at least something in getting the word out there. All of you that know of people
back wherever need to do something like this too. The idea behind it is that the more
BAD PRESS generated, the more dire the local pinch felt and the business-leaders will
get the attention of these lazy-leaders and whisper in their ear to "do something NOW!"
whereas Vera and gang ignore us here. This is a way...we've just got to crank it up to
make it work!

While Foxworth downplays his early contacts with the police, Terri Dennis, his ex-wife, says they bothered him. "He was harassed by the police when he was a teenager," says Dennis, who began dating Foxworth when he was 17. "He used to complain about it, say it was unfair. I think one of the reasons he became a cop was to try and make a difference in that."

I sort of agree with what North Portlander is saying. I come to this site a lot, and I can't remember ever seeing anything about gang violence (not to say that there hasn't been a single article about it, I'm just saying that there can't be very many or I would remember seeing at least one). Admonishing people like this with a "Well if you want to see it, then post it yourself..." is simply passing the buck. It's like if I move in with a bunch of housemates, and the first day I'm there I see that the trash hasn't been taken out in over a week and the worm bin hasn't been turned and the common room is a pigsty (no offense to computer-literate members of the Suidae family who may be present--it's just a figure of speech...), and I'm like, "Hey this house is a mess!", and then they're all "Well clean it up if you don't like it..." Yeah, it's like that. Fuck that. We as an online community (if that's what we are) need to be able to accept criticism and hold ourselves responsible for things once in a while.

Your words are angry and I can hardly blame you for that. By using the words "you people" and "us". Is drawing very defined but analytically fuzzy lines as discriminatory name calling often leades to. My people are all the people. To remedy your anger takes change. Change takes action that doesn't include insults, name calling, and disrcimination which are results of direct reaction. A far fetch from the direct action that produces change.... for the better.

"You people" indicates we are different than you. We are different because we are??? Maybe you think we're all white, we all live in mostly white neighborhoods, we are not personally touched by gang violence, and we don't care.

If I am one of those people, what power do you think I have to come into your neighborhood and tell you what to do? What power do you think I have to come into this online community and tell you, or tell the gang members in your neighborhood what to do? What expertise, personal experience, and resources do you think I have to solve the gang problem?

I'll tell you straight out, I have none.

If you want to help "us" understand why there's such a problem with gangs in Portland, and tell us what the community needs in order to combat the problem you can do so right here. You can become a member of this online community, just as anyone can. Telling us that we don't care doesn't help anything. You don't know frankly if we care or not. How much do you care? I have not a clue, 'cause I don't know you. Why don't you tell us?

Why aren't there posts about gang violence on indymedia? Because people with first-hand experience with the problem have not posted about it. Please post here. If this place is too white it's because the readership/writership is mostly white. The only way to diversify it is for other groups to come in and post.

Please, I'd rather read about what's going on in the Black community in Portland, than about chemtrails.

Ok, I had an interesting take on clamydia's comment. I think it's a question of whether you are actively empowering people or not. That is, it's one thing to just say "do it yourself" and it's another to say "that would be great but I can't take it on, how about posting some ways people can contribute, get involved, become educated."

That is not passing the buck; it's empowering people to be responsible for the issues they care about. The only time people are truly effective in making change is in the areas they are passionate about. Therefore a criticism like "why don't you have more coverage of gang related issues" is also only partially effective. It is great if it inspires people to become involved but it's ineffective if someone chooses to respond by doing the work out of a sense of obligation, or worse, guilt, rather than a sense of inspiration and passion.

I agree with the last couple of posters that I would be interested in seeing more coverage of gang issues and seeing more resources available (groups, events, etc). But I have my issues that I'm passionate about and that is all I can take on for the moment. We are all going to be at our best and contribute the most if we all stick to what inspires us at the moment. From that inspiration we draw energy, ideas, and can really effect change. Let us try to inspire one another to expand into new areas but let's also take our own inspiration and harness it for the common good. Gandhi said it best when he said you must be the change you wish to see in the world.

In an all-volunteer group it doesn't matter what you want to see. It matters what you want to do.

>We as an online community (if that's what we are) need to be able to accept
>criticism and hold ourselves responsible for things once in a while.

So what's a community then? What's an online community? How do we know if we am one? If this are one, is me part of it? Why is this label useful? Isn't the word "community" vague to the point of near-meaninglessness, and don't liberals use it all the fucking time for that very reason? I've seen the doors to more than one "community space" shut for a closed meeting of the Important People when the folks who're really paying the bills and pulling the strings get tired of playing games and pretending they give a shit.

Here's my take on it: We as an online community do NOT need to let cop-apologist trolls change the subject to gang violence and white guilt when-and-only-when the pigs ice somebody for no damn good reason.

I think you're the cop. Turning productive conversation to one filled with hate. Complaining about pig apologist I assume is supposed to make me feel that you are not a pig yourself and I should be very angry at police or "pigs". Maybe I should try and discredit everything that N. Portlander says and push him away out of our discussion board. That seems like a bad idea. Maybe we should be trying to gain support not enemies. N. Portlander is not my enemy. You're destroying the cause, maybe we should push you out of the site. But I don't think we should do that, why? Because I won't follow you example and neither should anyone else.

I do not dispute that this was yet another MURDER by the Portland Police. I whole heartedly believe that Police authorities all over the country and in others as well are all just pawns in the worlds biggest and most dangerous gangs that we call government. At any rate I have questions about this article; Such as how do we know that the victim asked for Probable Cause? Where did the information about the second arrest come from? Police scanner? Are there any witnesses to this horrible crime (aside from the police - we all know that they're full of shit)? I would really appreciate help answering these questions. Thank you in advance.

"N portlander" is long gone. Has he posted anything else? He laid out his insults, got what he wanted, which was to change the subject, and disappeared, and you bought it because he said he was black and he said he lives in N portland.

>I should be very angry at police or "pigs".

Why don't you call them whatever you want, and tell us all about how you feel about them. How have they treated you in your life?

>Maybe I should try and discredit everything that N. Portlander says

What he said was that your discussion board is full of "opportunists" who "don't care about black portlanders" or "justice" and are "happy to see us die unless our deaths can be used to further one of your pet projects." Feel free to support or oppose that position however you like.

please.
indy media as much as we want to say "we don't know that" is organized and ran by portland activists who -although not always or entirely- depending on the issue, are white...

and what does it mean to be in activist? if you are from north/ne and are paying attention it means neighborhood forums, meetings at the churches or parks, and discussion run by Black folk on how to make community action happen peacefully!!!
change happens through conversations with your neighbors and you congregation and your schools and the desire to improve your community while keeping your children alive.

i am afraid that white activists, even anti-racist activists forget the reality of the degree of difference between white privilege (rioting with the consequence of a weekend in jail) and black activism (making a change, while trying to stay safe.)

lets try community-
educate yourself on the daily lives of folks in communities of color, and what it means to face the reality of lossing a family member to racism.
and what it means to stand as an ALLY in a movement that you have absolutely to right to own- it is time WE listen for a change!!!!
(disclosure: yes, for effect there is some generalization stated in above text)

I have lived in NE portland for 14 years having experienced drug houses, gun shot noise, harassment, property theft and so on. In all the years living here as a fouth generartion American born Chinese I have only to comment that attitute plays an important role. My neighbor at 2908 NE 11th sells drugs and he and his friends are usually doped up to the gills. They are very unpredicitable and frightened when on drugs. I would be afraid of my life if I had to confront them. They have fired guns in the yard imtimidating the neighborhood. It works. I empathize with the police especially when they have to stop those who are not mentally stable due to drugs. I would not like to be shot in the face as well. I also feel for the blacks in our country but think the black community should also take some responsiblity. Learning to respect each other and those around as well is something taught at home. I hear how black kids speak to each other calling themselves four letter words. But these negative insults can play a big role in one's self-awareness even if it's just in jest. The black community needs to work together and stop the drugs and bad attitutes toward each other towards all other races as well. It begins with love of oneself before love can spread to others. I don't like hearing black mothers insulting their small children in the stores. I like all my neighbors, gay, black, and white. These stereotypes have generated from the years living here. We need to protect ourselves, our citizens and our police officers.

jahr is my cousin and when i heard the new about it i just broke down. So ya'll what we about to do? let me know bcause this aint right and was not armed to tell you the truth i think they inteneded to do this> He dam police men shoot him 4 times then got da nervous to tazer him wouldnt u think he would b dead after 4 dang shoots what im thinking in my had is that while the police officer wsa doing this he was think (DIE NI99a die) and then they want to brang his pass out thats the past not now. WE LUV U JAHIR I MISS YOU

When something like this happens, it strikes you to the core. Then you think what can be done? Of course you want to protect yourself, and who could blame you for thinking that way. You want to protect yourself and every one else that is a potential victim. Riot you say. Learn the lessons of the past, the only real problem with the idea of striking back furiously is that it doesn't work. They perceive you as being violent and irational. Do you want to prove them right! Something needs to be done though. There needs to be some kind of action. The camera idea was a good one, and it would take as much courage to weild a camara as it would to weild the sword. Think of who you are. Don't allow them to take away your pride. Don't allow yourself to stoop to there level. Remember the only problem with the idea of striking back is that it simply doesn't work. They say that someone put a contract out on those officers. Did it stop the violence? Did it really. I think not! The violence merely transforms and finds a new outlet of expression. Having said all of this, you would not see me bleming you for striking back. But before you do so, Ask yourself honestly the real reason why you are doing so. If the reason is to protect those around you then fair enough (However is it really the best way to protect others?) Try to think of new ways to solve old problems. I know that it is difficult. May God preserve you, keep you safe and extend your wisdom. Bye.

being a former n portland resident i am disgusted in the police departments "use" or should i say mis use hell plain right abuse of there power. i have personaly felt the sting of the portland police dept. north precenct and as a white male in my 20's i have to agree with the the rest of the people posting to this site that the racist b.s. needs to end these cops should be held acountable for there actions. if it was any of you or myself that shot that man we would be railroaded into the closest 5'x9' cell they could find, but let it be a peace officer who is suppoosed to be helping us be safe from things like this happening, and he will walk. it disgusts me the kindra james incident is what drew the line for me and i moved my family out of the neighborhood i grew up in. i think its time we as a whole take this problem to a higher power than the state because those pricks arent doing there jobs.